Teach young students to write about information through expository writing activities.
While it is important for kindergartners and early elementary students to learn creative writing techniques, it is equally as important for them to learn write about facts. Expository writing is a nonfiction writing style taught to young students to help them develop a technique for relaying information. Expository writing serves as a foundation for more comprehensive writing assignments, such as research papers, which will come much later in students' academic careers.
Description Activity
Teach kindergarteners and elementary students up to third grade about expository writing through a description activity. Have students select one object in the classroom to write about, such as the class hamster, the chalkboard, a lamp or a desk. Tell students that they must write down whole sentences that describe the object (or dictate them to you if they can't yet write). For instance, a student may write, "The chalkboard is green." Expect more detailed descriptions from second and third graders in this exercise. If a student gets stuck with only one or two sentences, help her discover more information about the object. Besides color, students should describe the size, shape, materials or smell of the object.
Tell About a Memory
For this expository writing exercise, have students describe a memory of something that they experienced. Memories can be, for example, of a place they traveled to with their parents on vacation, or of a time they went to the zoo and touched an animal. Provide students with writing prompts to help them include as many details as possible. Some helpful cues may be, "What did the location look like?" or "Who was there with you?" Kindergarteners and first graders may be able to write about or dictate the main ideas of the event. However, they may not remember details. Second and third graders should be able to recall details of the event, so hold them accountable for doing so in this expository writing activity.
Comparison Activity
Comparing and contrasting is a common expository writing theme that young students can have fun with. For kindergarteners up to third graders, prepare the activity by putting two dolls or stuffed animals at the front of the class. Have students come up and study the dolls or animals and try to remember the details. Then, direct the students to sit back down and write or dictate a comparison of the dolls or animals. Direct students to describe similarities as well as differences, in as much detail as possible. Students should provide thorough responses.
Little Travel Experts
Give students the task of writing an expository piece for tourists who are traveling to their city for the first time. Have students identify some of the activities that tourists should do, the places they should eat, the sights they should see, and the places where they should stay. This writing assignment should be rich with information, even if the information is basic.
